Motor-controller.



W. F. LENT. MOTOR CONTROLLER. APPLICATION FILED FEB. 20, 1915.

1 1 l 332% V Patented May 2, 1916.

THE COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH C0,, WASHINGTON, D. c.

WILMAR F. LENT, OF MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN, ASSIGNOR TO THE CUTLER-HAMMER00., OF MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN, A CORPORATION OF WISCONSIN.

MOTOR-CONTROLLER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 2 1916.

Application filed February 20, 1915. Serial No. 9,539.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WVILMAR F. Lnnr, a citizen of the United States,residing at Milwaukee, in the county of Milwaukee and State ofWisconsin, have invented new and useful Improvements inMotor-Controllers, of which the following is a full, clear, concise, andexact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawing,forming a part of this specification.

This invention relates to improvements in motor controllers and isparticularly useful for electrically propelled ore bridges and the like.

One of the objects of the invention is to provide improved means forlimiting the skewing action of a traveling bridge or other device andenabling the same to be readily squared for continued operation.

A further object is to provide means for arresting the movement of bothends of the bridge or other device upon skewing thereof and forthereafter permitting movement of one end of the bridge to square thesame while insuring against further movement of the opposite end of thebridge until squared.

Various other objects and advantages of the invention will hereinafterappear.

The accompanying drawing illustrates one form of the invention appliedto a stifflegged ore bridge, and the same will now be described, itbeing understood that the invention is not limited to the specific formthereof or application of the same selected for the purpose ofillustration.

In the drawing, Figure 1 is a schematic view showing in top plan abridge provided with driving motors and skew limit switches; and Fig. 2is a diagrammatic view of the control means for the motors of Fig. 1.

Referring to Fig. 1 the bridge is schematically illustrated ascomprising a cross beam 3 provided at opposite ends with stiff ornon-articulated legs 4 and 5 having rollers 6 to travel on tracks 7. Theleft hand end of the bridge is provided with a propulsion motor 8operating the lefthand rollers 6 through suitable driving connections,as illustrated, while the right hand end of the bridge is provided witha similar propulsion motor 9 to drive the right hand rollers 6, Further,the bridge is equipped with two skew limit devices 10 and 11 for itsleft hand end and two similar devices 12 and 13 for its right hand end.The devices 10, 11, 12 and 13 are all of like construction and ofconventional form. Each comprises two spring closed double pole switchesab and ccl and a pivoted operating member 14 disposed therebetween andmovable in opposite directions to open said switches selectively. Theswitches and their operating members are carried by the bridge and theoperating members 14 have forked eX- tensions 15 straddling the rails011 which the bridge travels whereby said members 14 are operated bylateral play of the bridge and are moved in opposite directionsaccording to the direction of play. Thus the members 14 operate thevarious switches ab and ccZ in different combinations according to theaction of the bridge, but, due to the connection of the switches, thesame are functionally dependent upon skewing action of the bridge, aswill hereinafter appear.

In operation, if the bridge is traveling in the direction of the arrowand it skews to advance its right hand end then the members 14 ofdevices 10 and 12 move in a counter-clockwise direction to open switchesab thereof, while the members 14 of devices 11 and 13 operate in aclockwise direction to open switches ccZ thereof. On the other hand,with the bridge traveling in the same direction, skewing motion toadvance the left hand end thereof effects movement of the members 14 ofswitches 10 and 12 in a clockwise direction to open their switches c0lwhile effecting movement of the members 14 of devices 11 and 13 in acounter-clockwise direction to open their switches a-b. It will thus beapparent that when the bridge is operating in a reverse direction theoperation of the limit switches upon skewing action of the bridge willbe similar to that above described.

Referring now to Fig. 2, the motors 8 and 9 are illustrated ascontrolled by electromagnetic switches in turn jointly controlled bymanual means and the above-described skew limit switches. The motor 8 isshown as provided with electromagnetic switches 16 and 17 to control thecontinuity of circuit and direction of operation thereof, and a mastercontroller 18 for energizing switches 16 and 17 selectively. Motor 9 isprovided with similar magnetic control switches 19 and 20 and a masterswitch 21. For simplicity of illustration the motors have been shownwithout any provision for acceleration and speed regulation thereof butit is to be understood that any preferred means may be provided for suchpurposes.

The power circuits for the two motors are identical and therefore thedescription of the circuits of one will suHice for both. Considering thecontrol of motor 8, closure of the switch 17 completes circuit from lineL by conductor 22 through the upper contacts of said switch, byconductors 23 and 24 through the motor armature A from left to right, byconductor 25 through the lower contacts of switch 17, by conductor 26through the motor field winding F, by conductor 27 to line L. On theother hand,

closure of switch 16 completes circuit from of shift it opens poles 10and 13 line L by conductor 22 through the upper contacts of said switch,by conductor 25 through the motor armature A from right to left, byconductor 2% through the lower contacts of said switch 16, by conductor26 through the field winding F, by conductor 27 to line L. Thusprovision is made for operation of the motor 8 and in a similar mannermotor 9 in opposite directions, and for the illustrated layout of limitswitches it will be assumed that the magnetic switches 17 and 20 effectoperation of the motors in such a direction as to drive the bridge inthe direction of the arrow, Fig. 1.

The control circuits, Fig. 2, have been laid out to correspond with thelimit switch arrangement shown in Fig. 1 and the reference charactersemployed for the several poles of the limit switches serve to identifythe positions thereof in Fig. 1. The energizing circuit of each of themagnetic switches includes one pole of each of the four limit switchdevices. For example, the energizing circuit of switch 17 includes thepole c of device 10, the pole at of device 12 in series with pole 10pole a of switch 11 in parallel with pole 10 and pole c of device 13 inparallel with-pole 12. Thus by reference to Fig. 1 it will be observedthat skewing action of the bridge in either direction while the bridgeis traveling in the direction of the arrow will deenergize switch 17 tostop the motor 8. If, for instance, the bridge skews to advance itsright hand end then switch 17 is deenergized by opening of the poles 12and 13f whereas if the bridge skews to advance its left hand end switch17 is denergized by the opening of poles 10 and 11 If, however, thebridge merely shifts laterally then according to its direction or polesl1 and 12*, but this will not effect the switch 17 in view of theparallel connections of the several poles. Thus while the four limitswitch poles under discussion function upon skewing action of the bridgethey do not effect the operation of the motor upon mere shifting of thebridge without a skewing tendency. The arrangement of limit switches incircuit with the winding of switch 20 is relatively the same as thatdiscussed in connection with switch 17 so that when the bridge istraveling in the direction of the arrow, Fig. 1, switch 20 will also bede'energized upon skewing'of the bridge in either direction. Likewiseswitches 16 and 19 correspond with one another in arrangement of limitswitches so that both of the same are deenergized upon skewing movementof the bridge in either direction during travel of the bridge in adirection opposite to that indicated by the arrow, Fig. 1. Thus thelimit switches provide for stopping of both motors under all skewingconditions. Moreover, these limit switches necessitate the establishmentof special connections for restarting the bridge after arrest thereby,for,

whenever the bridge skews the limit switches open the energizingcircuits of all four magnetic switches. To meet such conditions meansare provided whereby when the master controller of the leading motor isreturned to off position the open limit switches in circuit with thecontrol switches of the lagging motor are shunted. This enables thelagging motor to be restarted to square the bridge and thus restore alllimit switches to closed position whereupon the master controller of theleading motor may be operated to start its motor for continued operationof the bridge. The means just described includes a switch 26 associatedwith master controller 18 whereby when said controller is in offposition said switch 26 parallels limit switches 12 and 18 with limitswitches 12 and 13, at the same time paralleling limit switches 10 and11 with switches 10 and 11 Also, said means includes a switch 27similarly associated with the master switch 21 to parallel limitswitches 10 and 11 with switches 10 and 11, at the same time parallelinglimit switches 12 and 13 with switches 12 and 13 With such provisions acircuit may always be completed for the energization of the properswitch to advance the lagging end of the bridge. However, for reasonswhich will be readily apparent, it is desired to provide means to alsonecessitate return of the controller of the lagging motor to oil'position prior to re-starting. To this end a resistance r is associatedwith each master controller so as to be included in circuit with thewindings controlled thereby when the controller is moved from startingposition to any of its running positions, thereby providing aninterlock..7

The control circuits above mentioned may be traced as follows: That ofswitch 17 may be traced from line L by conductor 28 to contact 29 ofmaster controller 18 to right hand segment 30, by conductor 32 throughthe winding of switch 17 by conductor'33 through the limit switches 10and 11 in parallel, by conductor 34 through limit switches 12 and 13 inparallel, by conductor 35 to line L. When, however, the mastercontroller is moved to any running position it disengages segment 30from contact 29 and through a contact 36 and segment 37 establishes amaintaining circuit for switch 17 through resistance 7'. With the limitswitches 12 and 13 open and the master controller 21 in off position,then an alterna tive energizing circuit for the magnetic switch 17 maybe traced to conductor 34 as already described, and thence by conductor38 through switch 27 of master controller 21, by conductors 39 and 40through the limit switches 12 and 13 in parallel to conductor 35 andline L. The energizing circuit of magnetic switch 16 is completed byreverse operation of the master switch 18 to engage its contact 29 andits left hand seg ment 41 from which circuit it extends by conductor 42through the winding of switch 16, by conductor 43 through limit switches10 and 11 in parallel, by conductor 10 through limit switches 12 and 13in parallel to conductor 35 and line L. Then when the master switch ismoved to engage its contact 36 and segment 44 the resistance r isincluded in circuit with the winding of switch 16. The alternativecircuit of switch 16 when its limit switches 12 and 13 are open extendsas already traced to conductor 40 and thence by conductor 39 throughswitch 27 of master controller 21,

' by conductors 38 and 3 1 through the limit switches 12 and 13, byconductor 35 to line L.

The circuits of switches 20 and 19 are in all respects similar to thoseof switches 17 and 16 respectively so that it is needless tospecifically describe the same. It will, of course, be understood thatthe energizing circuits of switches 20 and 19 are controlled by themaster controller 21 and that the alternative connections for saidswitches extend through switch 26 of master controller 18.

While the controller has been illustrated as applied to a stiff-leggedbridge, it will be apparent that it is also applicable to articulatedbridges and susceptible of advantageous use in various other relations.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a controller for the propulsion mo-' tors of an ore bridge or thelike, in combination, separate controlling devices for the motors, askew limit mechanism adapted to act upon said devices to arrest bothends of the bridge or other device upon skewing thereof and means forthereafter rendering one of said controlling devices temporarilyoperable independently of said limit mechanism for squaring the bridge.

2. In a controller for the propulsion motors of an ore bridge or thelike, in combination, separate controlling devices for the motors, askew limit mechanism adapted to act upon said devices to arrest bothends of the bridge or other device upon skewing thereof and means forthereafter rendering one of said controlling devices temporarilyoperable independently of said limit mechanism for squaring the bridgebut only while the other device is maintained inoperative.

3. In a controller for the propulsion motors of an ore bridge or thelike, in combination, separate starting devices for the motors, a skewlimit mechanism adapted to act upon said starting devices to arrest bothends of the bridge or other device upon skewing thereof and means forthereafter rendering each of said devices temporarily independent ofsaid limit mechanism for squaring the bridge or other device.

4. In a controller for the propulsion motors of an ore bridge or thelike, in combination, separate starting devices for the motors, a skewlimit mechanism adapted to act upon said starting devices to arrest bothends of the bridge or other device upon skewing thereof and means forthereafter rendering each of said devices temporarily independent ofsaid limit mechanism but subject to selection thereby for squaring thebridge or other device.

5. In a controller for the propulsion mo tors of an ore bridge or thelike, in combination, separate controllers for the motors, a skew limitmechanism common to said controllers for arresting both ends of thebridge or other device upon skewing thereof and means whereby one ofsaid controllers is permitted operation to square the bridge while theother is insured against op eration until the bridge is squared.

6. In a controller for the propulsion motors of an ore bridge or thelike, in combination, separate controllers for the motors, a skew limitmechanism common to said controllers to arrest both ends of the bridgeor other device upon skewing thereof and means whereby after stopping ofthe bridge said controllers are operable subject to selection by saidlimit mechanism to square the bridge or other device.

7. In a controller for the propulsion motors of an ore bridge or thelike, in combination, separate controllers for the motors,

a skew limit mechanism common to said controllers to arrest both ends ofthe bridge or other device upon skewing thereof and &

means whereby after stopping of the bridge said controllers are operablesubject to selection by said limit mechanism, and to off positioning ofone, to square the bridge or other device.

8. In a controller for the propulsion motors of an ore bridge or thelike, in combination, separate controlling devices for the motors, askew limit mechanism common to said controlling devices to arrest bothends of the bridge or other device and means associated with one of saidcontrollers to temporarily remove the other from the control of saidlimit mechanism for squaring the bridge or other device.

9. In a controller for the propulsion motors of an ore bridge or thelike, in combination, separate controlling devices for the motors, askew limit mechanism common to said controlling devices to arrest bothends of the bridge or other device upon skewing thereof andinter-control means for said controlling devices whereby one upon returnto off position renders the other independent of said limit mechanismfor squaring the bridge or other mechanism.

10. In a controller for propulsion motors of an ore bridge or the like,in combination, separate controlling devices for the motors, a skewlimit mechanism common to said controlling devices to arrest both endsof the bridge or other device upon skewing thereof and inter-controlmeans for said controlling devices whereby each upon return to offposition renders the other temporarily independent of said limitmechanism for squaring the bridge or other device.

11. In a controller for the propulsion motors of an ore bridge or thelike, in combination, separate controlling devices for the motors, askew limit mechanism common to said controlling devices to arrest bothends of the bridge or other device upon skewing thereof andinter-control means for said controlling devices whereby the same uponreturn to off position render one another thereafter operable subject toselection by said limit mechanism to square the bridge or other device.

12. In a controller for a plurality of motors, in combination, separatestarting clevices for the motors normally operable independently ofone'another and common means acting upon said starting devices to stoptheir respective motors and to there after render one of said startingdevices temporarily dependent upon predetermined positioning of a partof the other.

13. In a controller for a plurality of motors, in combination separatestarting devices for the motors normally operable independently of oneanother and means acting upon said devices to cause them to simultaneously stop their respective motors and to render subsequentoperation of one dependent upon oif positioning of the other for atemporary period.

14. In a controller for a, plurality of motors, in combination, separatestarting devices for the motors normally operable independently of oneanother, means acting upon said devices jointly to cause them to stoptheir respective motors and inter-controlling means for said devicesrendering one of the same thereafter operable but only uponpredetermined positioning of the other for a temporary period.

15. In a controller for a plurality of motors, in combination, separatestarting de vices for the motors normally operable independently of oneanother, means acting upon said devices jointly to cause them to stoptheir respective motors and inter-controlling means for said devicesrendering one of the same thereafter operable but only uponpredetermined positioning of the other pending return of said means tonormal position. i

16. In a controller for a plurality of motors, in combination, separatestarting devices normally operable independently of one another andmeans acting upon said devices jointly to cause them to stop theirrespective motors and inter-controlling means for said devices to rendereach subsequently operable but only by predetermined positioning of theother.

17. In a controller for a plurality of motors, in combination, separatestarting de vices for the motors normally operable independently of oneanother, means governing said devices to effect circuit interruptionthereby and inter-controlling means for said devices to render the samesubsequently operable but subject to selection by said means and topredetermined positioning of the next device.

18. In a controller for a plurality of motors, in combination, separatestarting devices for the motors normally operable independently of oneanother, an emergency stopping mechanism common to the motors and actingjointly upon said starting devices and inter-controlling means for saiddevices to render one of said devices independent of said limitmechanism in the interim between the operation of said mechanism andrestoration of the same to normal position.

19. In a controller for a plurality of motors, in combination, separatecontrollers for the motors each controller including electro-responsivemeans to control the motor circuit and a master switch therefor, anemergency stopping mechanism acting jointly on the electro-responsivemeans of said controllers to denergize the same and inter-connectionsbetween said controllers whereby after operation of said mechanismpredetermined positioning of the master switch of one controller rendersthe other controller responsive independently of said stoppingmechanism.

20. In a controller for a plurality of motors, in combination, separatecontrollers for the motors, each controller including electro-responsivemeans to control the motor circuit and a master switch therefor, anemergency stopping mechanism acting jointly on the electro-responsivemeans of said controllers to denergize the same and interconnectionsbetween said controllers whereby predetermined positioning of the masterswitches thereof renders the controllers selectively responsiveindependently of said mechaism.

21. In a controller for the propulsion motors of an ore bridge or thelike, in combination, separate controlling devices for the motors, alimit mechanism common to said controlling devices and acting thereon toeffect simultaneous arrest of both motors and means adapted after arrestof the motors to render one of said controllers independent of saidlimit mechanism to restart its respective motor but such independencebeing restricted to a limited movement of the bridge or the like.

22. In a controller for the propulsion motors of an ore bridge or thelike, in combination, separate controllers for the motors, a skew limitmechanism common to said controllers and acting thereon to eifect arrestof both motors and means adapted after arrest of both motors to rendersaid control lers effective independently of but subject to selection bysaid limit mechanism for restarting their respective motors and theindependence of said controllers with respect to the limit mechanismbeing confined to limited movement of the bridge or other device.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name in the presenceof two L Witnesses.

WILMAR F. LENT. Witnesses:

TEKLA BAsT, H. WATSON.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Eatents, Washington, D. G.

